DISCLOSURE: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company.

All opinions are mine alone. #SaveSnackScore #CollectiveBias

Yes moms and dads: it’s time for you to become a Sideline Hero.

There have been LOTS of times when my wife and I have happily signed up for ‘snack duty’ while the boys were involved in various sports.

Nate (now a college graduate) and Matt (our high-school junior) both participated in cross-country, soccer, football, basketball, field and track, and marching band. I know “band” is not a sport, but in my part of the country, the kids put in hours and hours of work. And the parents sit in the bleachers to watch and cheer them on.

It’s funny: the parents never got a snack. And I think we deserved one!

After a long day of work and then coming home to grab the kids and their equipment, get them into the van and off to the venue. We had bags and coolers filled with goodies for the kids, but Mom and Dad? Nothing.

Parents need to stay hydrated too! And a little something to eat is a wonderful thing when you had to work through your lunch to get an important task completed. Can you relate?

Not to be selfish, but HEY! What about me?

I don’t need anything fancy. Just a drink and a little ‘something’.

POWERADE® and NABISCO Multipacks to the rescue!

Now, when my wife and I are attending one of Matt’s golf matches, we pack a snack for ourselves (and other parents — just in case). POWERADE® and some NABISCO Multipacks (Ritz Cracker Sandwiches) are a perfect duo.

{How do you like my Kermit the Frog blanket?}

They fit in our small cooler and we can toss them in the wire basket on the back of a golf cart (when we’re too lazy to walk nine or eighteen holes).

So, as we ‘make the turn’ as they say passing the ninth hole and going on to finish the last nine holes, we take a snack break (as do many of the golfers).

Truth be told: there are many times when we don’t wait that long – and we sneak in a snack way before the ninth hole!

I can remember some pretty warm days when my boys played soccer. With little or no time between running home and getting the kids, we would be sure to pack snacks – for the boys and for us!

Stock up your refrigerator with POWERADE® to get it nice and cold. Then, be sure your cooler is pre-packed with NABISCO Multipacks. When you get home, fill up the cooler with the drinks and head off to the game.

Some other things to keep in your cooler: an ice block, a damp washcloth, some bandages, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Use every square inch to pack the sideline necessities.

Awhile back, I wrote this post. I shared with my readers that the folks over at Reviews.com have put together some really great information on baby formulas. I highly recommend that you check it out. They researched some 90 infant formulas — it’s a great resource!

Organic Infant Formula

Is there such a thing? Yes, there sure is.

And if that’s important to you, then you have some choices! And that’s a GOOD thing.

Amy Malloy wrote a really great article on the subject of organic formula that you find here. If that’s the route you’ve chosen, you should take a few minutes and read her story.

Reading food labels and trying to buy the BEST food for us — and our kiddos — can be a full-time job. Is there any place to get some help?

Talk with Your Pediatrician

Pediatricians deal with kids all day long. They are a great resource when it comes to choosing a formula. If you don’t like what he/she tells you, then be sure to challenge them. Get the information you need so you can make an informed decision.

Doctors are not perfect; but they have first-hand experience with the good, the bad, and the ugly. So, perhaps you can lower your stress level by chatting with your child’s health provider if you’re not sure what formula your little person should be on. (And they may be able to give you some free samples and/or some coupons to save a few bucks.)

Consumer Reports

You saw this one coming, didn’t you?

The famous CR researches all sorts of things — including infant formula. They are a leader in their field, so you owe it to yourself to check out what they have to say. Here’s the link. There is a TON of good information there.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is you need to do your due diligence and find the formula that works best for your baby — and for you.

Once you’ve chosen a brand, you can do a bit more research and find a trusted source for the formula — at a price you’re okay with.

Diapers .com has some great prices on formula (and a whole lot of other baby-related items).

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner (sort of)

Enter the drawing for one free $50.00 Diapers .com gift certificate by doing the following:

Leave a comment below. If you’re a new mom or dad, tell us what formula you chose and why. If your kids are past the formula phase, tell us how old our kids are and what brand(s) worked best for them.

**Make sure you leave your email address in the comment box so I can get in touch with you if you’re the winner.**

GOOD LUCK!

{{The contest closes at midnight on 3-10-2017. The winners will be chosen over the weekend and notified no later than Monday, March 13.}}

The 2016 Garden Season

It was a bit scary at the beginning of the season when the water suddenly was non-existent. Yeah, that puts a damper on things.

The Master Gardeners group had worked out a deal with the city utilities and a wonderful source of water was put in. A spigot at each of the four corners of the plot.

In prior years, we had to use water from rain barrels — not the greatest thing in my opinion.

In 2016, I had water when I planted seeds and set out my tomatoes and peppers, but within two days, the water was gone.

My wife and I had gone to the garden to water and check on things. We hooked up the hose and turned the spigot on.

Nothing.

Not. A. Drop.

I had a small panic attack about then.

We had planted fifteen or so tomato plants and a dozen pepper plants. They really needed a drink. Or my gardening season was over.

I sent my wife to the dollar store to buy as many gallons of drinking water as she could get in the back of her Pathfinder. While she was gone, I used the vintage scuffle hoe I bought from a guy on Craigslist to take care of the weeds.

Funny, the weeds continue to grow — with or without water. : )

Scuffle hoes (in the photo above) are AWESOME by the way. If you’ve never tried one, you owe it to yourself to get one.

Jennifer returned with eight gallons of water.

We carefully watered all the plants, being really careful not to waste a drop of water.

As soon as the water hit the soil, it was gone. The earth just gulped it down.

We were able to give each plant two drinks of water. I prayed for cloud cover the next day.

The garden plots are in full sun. There’s zero shade.

And while that’s normally great for gardening, when you don’t have water, it becomes sudden-death for young plants.

We gathered up our empty plastic water jugs and tools and headed home.

For the next several days, we would fill up the jugs with water from home and cart them back and forth.

If I remember correctly, it was at least a full week before the water problem (whatever it was) was fixed.

Funny how we take such basic commodities for granted isn’t it?

Plans for the 2017 Growing Season

My plan for this year — though my wife doesn’t know it — is to rent TWO garden plots at the community garden site.

That would give me (us!) a 20 x 40 feet garden area. Wow!

Here’s what I’m planning on growing this season:

Tomatoes: 15 – 20 plants

Green Peppers: 10 – 12 plants

Cucumbers: 8 hills; with some sort of trellis or climbing aid

ONE zucchini plant. We had two last year and we were overtaken with zucchini. Those plants are crazy!

Green Beans: Tall Child wants me to plant green beans. Even though he doesn’t LIKE green beans. I’m not sure what’s up with that.

Are you planning a garden for 2017? If so, leave a comment. Tell me what you’re going to grow this year!

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Welcome to the blog!

Hey there! I'm Michael. I'm a husband, a father, and a homekeeper. Whether it's creating a meal for my family, helping my wife make our home our favorite place to be, or working in the yard/garden, you're sure to find it here. Join me on the journey! Read More…